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J. F. WALTHUUR. Rowing-Machine.

No. 228,845. Patented 1une.15,1880.

NPUERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPNER. WASHINGTON, D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. WAL'IHOR, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF OF HIS RIGHT TO VALTER H. CHENERY, OF SAME PLACE.

RowlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 228,845, dated June 15, 1880.

Application filed August 16, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JonN FRANKLIN WALT- HOUR, of San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a certain new and useful invention or Improvement in Rowing-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, ref'- erence being had to the accompanying drawro ings, and the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention has for its object to provide a rowing machine or apparatus to be used in halls, parlors, and buildings on land for exeroise, or on ships and vessels for the instruction of sailors and marines aioat.

It consists of a rocking frame or a frame on rockers 5 across the bottom of the machine, at right angles to the frame, extended support- 2o ing-arms, upon the extremity of which the oars are pivoted. These arms are jointed and are supported by stay-rods running from them and attached to the frame.

Along the gnnwale or sides of the frame are friction-guides provided with metal bearings, which, by set-screws and springs, are made to tighten upon the oars, so that they are moved with a' greater or less application of power or exertion of the operator. At the same time the 3o oars must be feathered before each stroke is made; all of which, together with other details of construction, will hereinafter be more fully set forth.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

3 5 Figure l is a perspective view of myimproved rowing -machine Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views of the gunwale-bars7 showing the modes of' constructing the upper one for strokes of different length. Fig. Il is a transverse section amidships through the line fr m, Fig. l.

A represents the frame of my machine, mounted upon rockers o a a, as shown, so as to impart to the machine, when the stroke is made, a more near approximation to the mo- 4 5 tion or settling of a row-boat in water, as the machine or frame will settle or yield to the operator as the strokes are made.

Athwart the machine, and at right angles to the body, extend arms or bars B B, which are 5o jointed and hinged at b b, and the same pin which holds and supports the hinges b also supports and holds the-outer ends of bracerods d d, which connect by bolts and nuts d with the frame.

To the ends of the arms B B are pivoted the oars by vertical pivots or swivels c, having eyes, through which bolts attached to the ends of the oars pass, the swivels and oars both being held by set-nuts e e2. rI hus it will be seen that the lower ends of the oars are con- 6o fined to said arms by pivots which admit of their being moved in an easy manner in a horizontal or rotary position. When the machine is not in use these arms may be folded up out of the way without unshippin g the oars.

The sides or gunwales of the machine are constructed of two strips or pieces of deal, D D', with longitudinal slots or openings, which are made by cutting away a portion of each deal, which form frictional surfaces, which are 7o metal-lined, and along which the oars are plied. The lower strips are rigidly fastened to the ends and center of the frame, and the upper strips are removable and provided with vertical pins f f, which pass through the lower strip 7 5 or deal a sufficient distance to receive a spring,

g, and thumb-screw g', so that a greater or less tension may be imparted to the springs, and a greater or less power exerted to raise the Aupper strip or deal in pulling the metal-cov- 8o ered oars along the metal-lined slots, as the friction will become greater or less as the thumb or set screws are tightened or loosened through the medium of the springs. A These frictional bearing-surfaces are one of the most 8 5 important features of my invention, as by this means the operator or oarsman can regulate theresistance of the frictional bearing-surfaces upon the metal bearingsurfaces of the oars to his capacity or increasing capacity of plying 9o the oars.

It should here be observed that the ends h h of the slots are made wider, so as to give sufficient space in which to feather the oars, which should be done at the commencement of each stroke by turning the oars on their pivots and in the enlarged heads of the slots. Where a shorter stroke is necessary, as when ladies or children are exercising, the upper deal or gunwale, D, having a shorter slot, is roo employed.

vThe body or shell of the machine is construoted, as shown, with the foot-brace board E and seat F, movable on Ways t' z', having in view a proper adjustment to the height ot' the opera-tor, and all of the parts ot' the machine are put together with bolts and screws, so that it ean be taken apart and shipped, occupying but a small space.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to seeure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a rowingn'iaehine, the horizontallyslotted friotional oar-bearings or gunwales D D', the upper portion, D', being adjustable7 by means ot' the springs g g, upon the guide-pins fj', substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In combination with a rowing-mael1ine mounted on rockers, the oars pivoted at their lower ends and arranged to operate in frictional bearings, substantially as described.

3. In a rowing-machine, the combination, with the shell A, having the gunwales provided with longitudinal openings, of the oars pivoted to the folding arms or bars B B, and operating in the frietional bearing-surfaces of said openings, all combined and arranged substantially as herein set forth and described.

In testimony that Ielaim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 15th day of July, 1879.

JOHN F. NTALTHOUR.

Vitnesses:

C. W. M. SMITH, JAMES C. WARD.

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